{"id":825,"date":"2016-11-24T20:15:54","date_gmt":"2016-11-24T20:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/svslowflight.com\/?p=825"},"modified":"2016-11-24T20:25:43","modified_gmt":"2016-11-24T20:25:43","slug":"what-we-are-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving-bill-hilliker-our-san-carlos-land-family-and-oasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svslowflight.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/24\/what-we-are-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving-bill-hilliker-our-san-carlos-land-family-and-oasis\/","title":{"rendered":"What we are thankful for this Thanksgiving – Bill Hilliker: Our San Carlos Land family and Oasis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Billy’s house<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Our view from the back porch we often spend our evenings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So maybe some of you have asked the question (or not) where have you all been staying since your boat is in the boat yard? If you are a fellow cruiser…you will know that staying on your boat in the boat yard is totally possible and doable, however it is dusty, water and electricity can be issues, and it can be hot as hell!<\/p>\n

We have been fortunate enough to be staying at Billy’s house for the duration of our yard experience. \u00a0We met him like this:<\/p>\n

Trevor and I at the Marina office some time in October speaking with the guy at the desk:<\/strong> “Do you know of any place we could stay locally that is cheaper than the hotels near by?”<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Billy, who is standing at the marina desk waiting to be helped:<\/strong> “You guys need a place to stay?”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    us<\/strong>: “Well yes, we would like to find a place to stay while we do some work on the boat for about a 2 weeks…”<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Billy<\/strong>: “You guys just come and stay at my neighbors casita (smallhouse)…”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      us:<\/strong> “Seriously? how much would you want?”<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Billy<\/strong>: “oh I don’t care….really cheap, just a fair price…just come and meet me this afternoon and I can take you up there and show you around. \u00a0There is a small pool, a\/c, no kitchen but you can use mine, and you can do laundry at my house.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        us:<\/strong> “Ummmm…that would be great….Do you want to know our names or anything about us?”<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Billy<\/strong>: “no you guys seem to be nice people”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          AND that is the beginning of a great friendship!<\/p>\n

          We ended up staying in Billy’s house rather than at his neighbors casita due to the a\/c being broken. \u00a0We have been living with Billy for almost a month now as our boat work expanded as well as our time line. \u00a0He has been such an incredible gift to us, we can’t even articulate how amazing he and his generosity has been for us. I will try to give this experience justice:<\/p>\n

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          Bill introduced us to a group of his friends and we all went to a local bar, Captains, for live music. The dance floor looked like this when we got there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          This is the dance floor after Kimi bought a table of 8 guys next to ours a shot of tequila..herself included…..the party needed to be lived up so I think I accomplished that : ) The kicker was that the next morning we ran into a guy in the boat yard who recognized me giving the shots of tequila away and told me I was the talk of the town…opps!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          Bill introduced us to Luis Hernandez, the guy to see for all stainless steal work in the area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          Bill with Gustavo and his lovely wife Karen. Bill and Gustavo are headed into a business venture producing fresh tortillas in the Prescott AZ area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          Billy lets us utilize his vehicle when we need to go around town…I am getting my country on!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          When we arrived back from our Arizona trip, we came back to Bill’s brothers and nephew at the house. These guys were a hoot and the boys had a great time together for a week! Me and 5 guys in the house….I was a little out numbered! Jeremy, JD, Jeff, and Trevor in the kitchen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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          Bill took the boys out fishing on his boat. They caught 4 yellowtail tuna!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

          Billy’s family often come to visit Mexico. \u00a0They are actually local hero’s here in the area! \u00a0Billy, his son, and brothers were actually the ones to call for help to save this sperm whale and her calf back in 2011. \u00a0These \u00a0videos are testament to the rescue (one with an interview with Billy’s son, the other is an educational video but shows a photo of Billy and the crew who called out help to save the whales, the other is a article mentioning the Hillikers assist).<\/p>\n

          Sperm Whale Marine Turtle Gil Net Rescue A Success!!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n